'Elysium' Tops Weekend Box Office, Followed by 'We're the Millers'

Matt Damon returned to top of the box office as his "Elysium" beat out Jennifer Aniston’s comedy "We're the Millers" this past weekend.

"Elysium" scored an opening weekend box office total of $30.5 million, The Associated Press reported. "We're the Millers" came in second, with a $26.6 million weekend total, and $38 million overall since opening last Tuesday.

Urgent: Should Obamacare be Repealed? Vote Here Now

"Elysium" is director Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to the 2009 hit "District 9," which gained four Academy Award nominations. "Elysium” failed to top "District 9's" opening weekend total, $37.4 million.

But Sony executives said they are still thrilled with the opening weekend. “Elysium” cost $115 million to make, according to the Wall Street Journal. The movie has taken in almost $11 million internationally and has yet to open up in the huge movie-going Chinese market.

"We love being in the Neill Blomkamp business," Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at Sony Pictures Entertainment told The Journal.

The studio is reportedly discussing other projects with Blomkamp.

The science fiction movie is about a futuristic world in which the majority of humans live on a ruined Earth while the wealthy have moved on to an upscale space colony called Elysium with best health care and life-saving medicines.

Sony has been under pressure by shareholder Daniel Loeb to improve its box office returns. Bruer said he believed "Elysium" passed the first test, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"To hit the $30 million mark is very good considering the competitive landscape and all these new movies coming in," Bruer said. "(Blomkamp) is a great storyteller, and this film will be a big success for the studio."

Rounding out the top 10 for the weekend box office was: "Planes," $22.5 million; "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters," $14.6 million; "2 Guns," $11.1 million; "Smurfs 2," $9.5 million; "The Wolverine," $8 million; "The Conjuring," $6.7 million; "Despicable Me 2," $5.7 million; and "Grown Ups 2," $3.7 million.

Editor's Note: Get the Navy SEALs Cap – Celebrate Our Heroes

Related stories:

Matt Damon Slams Obama: He 'Broke Up With Me'

Jeb Bush Says Matt Damon's a Hypocrite